Alan Partridge Flies The Nest: Steve Coogan Takes His Creation To Sky

Sky's ever-increasing grip on British TV comedy has tightened even further with the news that Norfolk's finest, Alan Partridge, will be making his next programmes for its Sky Atlantic channel, and not the BBC.

Steve Coogan's creation will star in two one-hour TV specials for the digital satellite broadcaster. In Welcome To The Places Of My Life, Alan will take viewers on a tour of his home county; while Alan Partridge On Open Books With Martin Bryce will see him being interviewed in front of a book club.

Sky Atlantic will also be adapting Partridge's hugely successful online series, Mid Morning Matters, screen a new animation narrated by Coogan, and a broadcast a two-part series - Steve Coogan's Stand Up Down Under - which is a behind-the-scenes look at his Australian live tour.

"Alan has been off the TV for too long but he is even more excited than me about his chance to have a second bite of the cherry," said Coogan. "Alan feels the second decade of the millennium is the right time."

Lucy Lumsden, Head of Comedy for Sky, said: "Sky Atlantic is providing our best writer-performers the space to feel creatively free. Who better to kick off our new season of comedies than the phenomenally talented Steve Coogan?"

Well, who indeed? And if you needed any reminder of this phenomenal talent - why, enjoy our round-up of classic Alan Partridge moments below: